Eric McLachlan

A critics job is to critique. That's the only way I can understand the professional reviews' attitudes to this game. After seeing the reviews, I was hesitant to buy this game, but eventually I bought it and... This game is awesome! Seriously, the developers did an amazing job. The story is well constructed, the main character is complex but likeable, and the action is loads of fun. Having seen the hordes shown at E3 many years ago, I thought this game was going to be over-the-top action, but it's so well balanced. I could only start taking on hordes near the end of the game (although it's possible to do so earlier). I'm happy to say that the focus is way more on creating a compelling narrative and that's what's important to me. This is one of the best games I've played in years. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope you do too.

This game is visually stunning. There were just so many corners that I would walk around only to be stunned by the beauty of the landscape. The Island of Tsushima seems to be portrayed as a microcosm of the whole of Japan, with the south of the island being almost tropical with golden beaches and crabs. As the game progresses, you move north up the island, which takes you through various settings: gorgeous grassland plains, a golden forest of Gingyo trees, earth scorched by war, and swamps. Not only that but the seasons progress as you go up the island. Summer in the south, autumn further inland, and ultimately bitter winter in the north. During the game's anti-climax, you get a glimpse of spring with the flowering of cherry blossoms. Unlike many other open-world games, you don't spend your time following a beacon on a mini-map in the corner of your screen. Instead, nature guides you to your quests locations. This is accomplished by an ambient wind that occassionally gusts; kicking up blossoms, leaves, or snow. It's by following these that you can find your way through the world. This really helps to immerse you in the world. I really hope other game designers consider including this in their games as, in my mind, this is clearly superior to the classic mini-map overlay. The story is better than most; although, to this author, some of the premises and plot devices seemed a bit contrived (<cough> the poison <cough>). Still, it was thoroughly enjoyable to play. One question... The game forced me to kill like a million Mongols but there's no love-interest, no nudity, no sex, nothing. The game is almost entirely asexual. I thought this was for mature audiences, no?